Anthem

Anthem Overview

Anthem, the city of Phoenix’s most northern section is home to several newer neighborhoods and a growing job hub. Shopping opportunities are abundant. Schools are newer. And there’s lots of open desert. The area will draw plenty of future development, but much of its open space will be preserved.

Transportation

Interstate 17 runs along much of the western side of this area, where it bisects Loop 101. Carefree Highway also runs through it.

Explore the 2 areas of Anthem

Anthem: 85086

Anthem is this area’s first big development. The planned community has a golf course and country club. High-end homes, more-affordable houses, new schools, condominiums and apartments can all be found here. The area’s many amenities include a huge swimming center and outlet stores.

New River: 85087

New River is a relatively large area with few neighborhoods. Most homes are large and on big lots with few neighbors nearby. This unincorporated area of Maricopa County borders parks and open space.

Housing

Large and newer homes near desert preserves or on lots in the desert make up most of this neighborhood. Apartments can be found in Anthem and the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve areas. Most houses are designed in Phoenix’s popular stucco style.

The Market

Home prices are higher than average in the city of Phoenix’s farthest northern suburbs. The typical house in this neighborhood sells for more than $300,000.
New homes account for almost half of this neighborhood’s sales. And that is why home prices are higher.
Anthem and Phoenix Sonoran Preserve draw many families and empty nesters. New River is popular with retirees and second-home buyers.
Home sales are steady here. And prices are near pre-boom levels.

Investors purchased foreclosure properties here and turned them into rentals. Those homes and apartments are popular with renters.

Living here

This neighborhood in the desert is almost 30 miles from Downtown Phoenix but the area’s residents don’t have to commute far for jobs and shopping. Schools and many things to do are also located close by. Traffic along I-17 can back up during popular commute times and when Valley residents travel back and forth from northern Arizona. The area has land available for future development and residents.

Things to do in Anthem: 85086

Main attractions

Thanks to freeway proximity, big-city amenities and the great outdoors are both a quick drive away. For the studious, there’s Glendale Community College North Campus nearby. It offers degree and certificate programs without the commute.

Out on the town

This family-oriented community is flush with shopping, dining and entertainment. Find especially good deals at the packed Outlets at Anthem. Or take a ride on the Daisy Mountain Railroad at Anthem Community Park.

Outdoors

The Anthem Community Center’s 63-acre Community Park includes 15 miles of trails for walking, bicycling and running. There also is a Big Splash water park and lap pool at the park. Nearby Daisy Mountain Trail is a popular hiking destination but requires a State Lands permit. Cave Creek Regional Park and the Phoenix Sonoran Desert Preserve are nearby.

Things to do in New River: 85087

Main attractions

Thanks to freeway proximity, big-city amenities and the great outdoors are both a quick drive away. For a taste of the Wild West, check out New River and historical Wranglers Roost. The 19^th-century stagecoach stop is now a resort with an archery range.

Out on the town

This family-oriented community is flush with shopping, dining and entertainment options. Find especially good deals at the packed Outlets at Anthem. In more beautiful weather, take a ride on the Daisy Mountain Railroad in Anthem Community Park.

Outdoors

Who lives here

Nearly 80 percent of the houses were built since 2000 in this small area. Anthem has above-average income and is well-educated. The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve neighborhood (85085) is this area’s wealthiest, most ethnically diverse and most highly educated enclave.

5 things to know about Phoenix

It’s big: Phoenix is the nation’s sixth biggest city and its population is still growing faster than many other U.S. cities. The city was named in the mid-1800s by settlers who compared their new home to the mythical bird that burned and rose from the ashes.
It’s a great place to hike: National Geographic ranked Phoenix as one of America’s 15 best hiking cities. The city has a vast network of desert preserves and hiking trails, including iconic summits like Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak. You’ll find trail maps and descriptions online.
It has a reputation for being a well-run city: Phoenix has received various awards for good governance and has the highest credit rating of the nation’s six largest cities. But the city has struggled to get its fiscal problems in order since the Great Recession. City Council members regularly have coffee meetings open to all residents.
It is focusing on urban growth and transportation: Phoenix’s general plan focuses heavily on infill development along the light-rail corridor. Light rail will continue to be one of Phoenix’s key development tools, with city leaders hoping to triple its miles of track by 2050.
It has a thriving cultural scene: The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona all perform in the city’s Symphony Hall located downtown. The Orpheum Theatre, Herberger Theater Center and Valley Youth Theater are all nearby. Also located in the central city are the Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona Capitol Museum, Children’s Museum, Arizona Science Center and Heard Museum. A popular monthly art walk to a growing number of downtown galleries is called First Fridays and held on the first of each month.